Taylor Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka were paired together for the exhibition doubles tournament prior to the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
The duo would win three tie-break style matches to emerge victorious for the evening, raising money for charity.
The Swiss were represented by Belinda Bencic and Stan Wawrinka in the exhibition doubles prior to the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells:
Hubert Hurkacz and Iga Swiatek formed a Polish contingent for the exhibition doubles matches before the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells:
Casper Ruud was paired with Ons Jabeur for the exhibition doubles before the 2023 BNP Paribas Open tournament at Indian Wells:
The Canadian contingent for the exhibition doubles at Indian Wells consisted of Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime:
Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul presented an All-American team for the mixed doubles exhibition prior to the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells:
The evening before the BNP Paribas Open commenced there was an exhibition tournament to benefit a local hospital.
Eight of the top men and eight of the top women were paired in mixed doubles competition for an evening of entertaining tennis.
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas was paired with his compatriot Maria Sakkari:
Apparently Denis Shapolavov and Maria Sharapova are not the only ones that lift their trailing leg high after serving (see the post of April 24).
Here is Carlos Alcaraz on the practice court at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells:
At the time of the Indian Wells tournament, Carlos Alcaraz was the #1 ranked player on the ATP tour.
His practice session with Francis Tiafoe was standing room only on one of the side courts!
Alcaraz has been described as a "human highlight reel."
Nearly every game of every set he comes up with stunningly brilliant shots. His creativity, combined with court-sense, movement, and tennis-smarts which belie his young age of 19 are simply remarkable.
Not only that, his work ethic and character are exemplary. As Stefanos Tsitsipas said at the trophy ceremony at last week's tournament in Barcelona, even though Carlos is younger than most players on the tour, he sets an example that older players admire and would be wise to follow.
He has certainly become my favorite player to watch in all of professional tennis!
How about some color?
German Alexander "Sascha" Zverev is currently ranked #16 on the ATP tour, though was ranked as high as #2 last year.
Here he practices at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
While searching for a photo of Maria Sharapova for yesterday's post, I came across a few other shots of interest taken at Indian Wells in 2007.
Here's another of Maria Sharapova:
And one of Rafael Nadal.
